Method and apparatus for photographic flashing



Sept. 7, 1926. 1,598,746

G. ROES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASHING Filed Dec, 8, 1922 INVENTOR ,6e0r'qe B 06$ ATTORNEYS V I to manipulate this sheet Patented Sept. 7,1926;

UNITED STATES GEORGE BOES, 0F RIDGEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY.

, a i l METEOD AN D APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ELASHDQ'G.

Application filed December 8, 1922. Serial No. 605,746.

The invention relates in eneral to an improvement in the art of p otogra hy, and specifically relates to an improve method of photographing objects to obtain a soft I effect in the dark parts of the resulting picture.

It is a usual practice in preparing halftone ne atives to make three ex osures of the stil object being photograp ed. The first step is to make the exposure with the lens in relatively wide open position. The second step is to make the second exposure with the stop set relatively small, and for the third exposure a white sheet, termed a flash sheet, is positioned. betweenthe object and the lens and a brief exposure is made of the same. This last step is known as a flashing and has the result of toning down or clouding the shadows or dark parts on the resulting picture so as to give a softening modification to well known half-tone effect on the picture. ,7 a

It has been found to be uite inconvenient or it .not infrequently happens that it is of large area,

i bulky and difficult to move and frequently must be assembled as a plurality of se arate arts in the case 'of a large object an as it 1s positioned immediatel in front of the object being photographe and at a distance from the camera, there is a necessity for the operator to move back and forth between the camera and the sheet. Further, the sheet which not infrequently is simply a large sheet of paper, becomes dirty and rumpled and detracts from the uniformity of the effect desired on the resulting picture. With different-objects being photogra hed it is a customary practice to rovi e different 'sized' sheets to accommo ate the ,field of vision of the camera when laced at its ve' ing distances from the object and with eac re-arrangement of camera and sheet,

- there is a necessary readjustment of the light usually em loyed to illuminate the object and sheet, a l of which renders the oldj method both inconvenient and expensive.

The primary ob'ect of the invention is to provide a simpli ed and easily practiced method of toning down the darker portions of the half-tone eflects photographically, and at thesame time to effect an economy both in the time lapse necessary to mum the desired effect, to attain economy in the labor necessary to effect the desired flashing and claimed. A

step, and to effect an economy in the apparatus necessary t6 practice the flashing method.

Broadly, I achieve this phase of the invention by positioning a source of light fora brief period of time in the optic axis of the camera and between the objective lens and its focus.

Referring to the mechanical features of the disclosure, an. object of the invention is to provide a simple means for conveniently locating a source of light, hereinafter referred to as a flash lamp, in operative position relative to the camera when desired and forth in the following particular description of one method and of one formof apparatus for practicing the method and the invention also consists in certain new and novel operations and features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth In the following description and .in the claims, parts will be identifie by s namesfor convenience of expression but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. P In theaccompanying drawings tne figure is a view in side ele atibnofa camera of conventional form, hown lar ely in diagrammatic outline and equipp tachment co-actin therewith to -constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing there is shown a camera with an at- 10 which includes a front frame 11 carrying an objective-lens 12, all as is well known in employed for;

cameras of the ty usually photographing stil objects.

' Mounted on the frame 11 is a bracket 13 which carries a source of light 14 herein identified as a flashing lamp and which referably is in the form of an electric light 15 so tha ashing lamp may into operative POSltlOIL in ad vancefi and .means of a universal jointbe moved relatively close to the objective lens 12 so that it will be removed from the focus of the lens and positioned between the lens and the object being photographed. The lamp may be locked in both its operative and in its inoperative positions by a thumb nut 16 se-.

curing the parts of the joint 15. When not in use the flash lamp may be moved into an inoperative position out of the optic axis of the camera and into a position offset from the camera. Preferably this position will be toward the left side of the camera as the operator usually works from the right side of the camera.

In operation it will be understood that the half-tone negative is produced following I the usual method practiced in so far as the photographing of the object is concerned. Then instead of placing the flash sheet between the lens and object, the operator simply swings the flashing lamp into its operative positionand floods the sensitized and previous exposed plate with a strong light for a short period of time, "usually ten to thirty seconds, depending upon the intensity of clouding eflect desired on the resulting photograph. The time duration of this flashing operation is most conveniently regulated by utilizing the timing mechanism common with camera of. this character, but it is within the scope of this disclosure to regulate the flashing by the operation of a suitable control for the lamp.

' By following the method herein disclosed it is possible to eliminate the use of the usual flash sheet, together with the inconvenience and expense associated with the use of such devices. The method herein described can be practiced rapidly for the operator need not"'move from his position adjacent the camera but can manipulate the camera in its photographing steps and quickly swing the flashing lamp to and from its operative positionwhen required.

While I have shown and described, and

have pointed out in the annexed claims, cerexposed to take the desired picture to the.

subsequent action of a flood of intense light projected thereon directly from the light source for a brief period of time.

2. In the art of producing half-tone negatives photographically, the method which consists in photographing the object and then subjecting the resulting sensitized plate to the action of an intense direct and nonreflected light. I

3. In the art of photography, the method which consists in photographing the object and then subjecting the sensitized plate when so treated to the action of a source of light distributed across the field of the plate with the field exposed directly to the source of the light.

a. In the art of producing half-tone negatives photographically, the method which. in-

a source of light in the optic axis of the camera and between the camera lens and its object focus and removed from the focus of the camera lens and in position to flood the sensitized plate with light projected thereon directly from the light source and flooding the sensitized plate with light, from such light source.

5. In a camera device, the combination of a camera, a camera lens, a source of light exposed directly to the lens and means for positioning said light source exterior of the camera in the optic axis of, and in advance of, the lens.

6. In a camera device, the combination of a camera having an objective lens, and a source of light exterior of the camera, movable to and from an operative position in advance of the lens and discharging its light ra s directly into the lens thereby to produce a alf-tone effect on the sensitized body in the camera. a 7. A camera provided with means producing a half-tone effect and including a source of light for flooding the entire sensitized plate in a substantially uniform dis tribution of direct light,

8. A camera provided with an objective; lens, and a source of light mbvable to and from an operative position in advance of the lens for flooding the sensitized plate with light, said operative position being between the lens and the object focus of the lens and relatively close to the lens.

9. Acamera, a bracket pivotally mounted on the camera, an electric light flash lamp mounted on the bracket and movable therewith to and from an operative position in the optic axis of the camera. Signed at New York city, in the county of New York a'nd'State of New York this 7th day ofDecember, A. D. 1922.

GEORGE ROES.

eludes photographing the object, positioning 

